Newsmakers
Announced Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti will drive the pace car in the 98th running of the Indy 500 in May. Franchitti was forced to retire in November from injuries suffered in an October crash.
• Shaquille O’Neal of LSU, Grant Hill of Duke and Darrell Griffith of Louisville headline the 2014 College Basketball Hall of Fame class. They will be joined at the November ceremony by Zelmo Beaty from Prairie View A&M, Final Four coaches Dale Brown of LSU and Gary Williams of Maryland; longtime coach and author Glenn Wilkes Sr.; and Howard Garfinkle, the founder of the Five-Star Basketball Camp.
Filed The Dallas Cowboys have filed a complaint against Jay Ratliff and are seeking compensation from the defensive lineman. Ratliff was sidelined last season while recovering from a sports hernia. When he told the Cowboys he was not physically able to play, they released him. A week later, Ratliff’s surgeon medically cleared him to play and he signed with the Bears.
Signed Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan has signed a three-year contract extension that raises his average salary to $3.7 million over the next six years.
• The Detroit Lions and safety James Ihedigbo have agreed to a two-year contract. Ihedigbo made 99 tackles and had three interceptions for the Baltimore Ravens last year.
Received Athletic director Gene Smith will receive a bonus of more than $18,000 – one week of his base salary – for Ohio State’s Logan Stieber winning the 141-pound weight class at the NCAA wrestling championships. Smith signed a new contract this year that pays him a bonus for “exceptional athletic achievements.”
Died Lynda Petty, the wife of NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, has died after battling cancer. She was 72. Besides her husband, Lynda Petty is survived by son Kyle Petty, two daughters, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Hired A person with knowledge of the deal says Steve Masiello is leaving Manhattan to become the basketball coach at South Florida. Masiello had a 60-39 record in three seasons.